About Lightstream

Our consultative approach is backed by real expertise, years of experience and unmatched customer support.

The Lightstream Difference

Lightstream is unique among the many companies offering voice and data solutions today. As a full-service provider of the latest technologies, Lightstream offers the broadest array of solutions you will find from a single-source partner.

This two minute video describes our vision and passion at Lightstream.

Lightstream Founders and Officers

Jim CassellCEO

Jim has been developing telecommunications solutions for more than 20 years. He has extensive experience in management and sales, developing strategic enterprise solutions for small to large companies in the Western United States. After working for many years in the telecommunications industry with carriers like Sprint, US West and Qwest, Jim co-founded Lightstream with a vision to provide companies more flexibility and choice than carriers were able to offer individually, thereby creating advanced enterprise solutions that include multiple locations and service providers. Jim has a passion for developing lasting relationships while providing the best solutions with unmatched customer service.

Rod StoutPresident

Rod Stout is a co-founder of Lightstream with over 20 years of telecommunications experience. Rod has worked in sales and engineering positions with some of the largest names in the telecommunications industry. He comes from an engineering background that included the design, implementation, and deployment of the core voice and data backbone for XO communications (formerly Nextlink) throughout the Western United States. Rod also worked for Cisco Systems in the Optical Networking division, designing and implementing SONET, DWDM, and LH DWDM Networks for Fortune 500 corporations around the nation.

Kurt RichterVice President, Engineering

Kurt Richter is a co-founder of Lightstream and has been in the technology industry since high school, when he began his own networking and consulting business. Kurt’s areas of expertise include infrastructure architecture for both enterprise and service provider levels, internetwork design, security, network operations, data engineering and troubleshooting, as well as business technology development and consulting. He designed and managed networks and consulted for Fortune 500 companies, in addition to designing Internet backbones for regional ISPs in the United States and Canada. Kurt is also a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (Routing & Switching) #8122 and Master Certified Network Expert (M-CNX) #1151

Sharon LouieVice President, Customer Support

Sharon is a co-founder of Lightstream and has been in the telecommunications industry for 30 years. She worked at Qwest for over 20 years and held positions in engineering, sales support and support management. Sharon managed most of the large and complex fiber projects in the state of Utah. She implemented many large long distance networks with advanced features for major call centers. Sharon also worked closely with all major carriers including all of the independent LECs. She has extensive experience in project management of voice and data, long distance and local services.

Other Management Team Members

Jeff CollinsChief Strategy Officer

Jeff Collins has been providing leadership and strategy to cloud, managed services and telecommunications providers for more than 15 years. Before joining Lightstream, Collins led the sales and engineering organization for EarthLink’s Cloud and Managed Services Division. Prior to this he held strategy, sales engineering and network engineering leadership roles at XO Communications and Concentric. Jeff also has extensive experience designing and implementing infrastructure, application and security convergence solutions for Fortune 500 companies throughout the world.

Sjon BensonChief Technology Officer

Sjon has been implementing business automation solutions for more than 15 years. He developed custom software solutions for 1-800CONTACTS, including automated prescription verification systems, shipping and receiving systems as well as their first e-commerce solution that captured more than 50% of their sales within 2 years. Previously he was the VP of IT at Progrexion (Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com) responsible for IT infrastructure and proprietary development strategies during the company’s explosive 40% year of growth. Sjon has a passion for technology and business analytics.

Shan EdwardsChief Financial Officer

Shan has over 15 years of experience providing accounting and finance solutions to a broad range of companies. He began his career with the accounting firm KPMG, assisting large to mid-size private and public companies with their financial reporting and accounting processes. He has since filled controller and chief financial officer positions with technology and industrial firms overseeing corporate finance and accounting functions, establishing business strategy, leading mergers and acquisitions and contract negotiations, and assisting with general business management. Shan received Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from Utah State University and is a certified public accountant.

A Few of Our Partners

About Us

Lightstream is an experienced integrator of technologies for today's enterprise, with the ability to customize solutions for any size organization. Our core values emphasize integrity, long-term relationships and fanatical customer care.

Learn more about Lightstream under the VISION menu and more about the technology solutions we can provide under the SOLVE menu.